The defendant was charged with the murder of a man who suffered a fatal stab wound at a party in Woodford Green, East London. The man, known as rapper ‘Hypo’, whose real-name was Lamar Jackson, died as a result of his injuries at the party in Woodford Town Football Club on 3 June 2022. Mr Jackson was a high-profile individual having previously been in a relationship with singer Emile Sande. He also had a fearsome reputation as the leader of the notorious London Fields Gang based in Hackney.
The defendant accepted arming himself with a knife and causing the fatal injury but maintained that he was acting in self-defence.
He was unanimously acquitted by the jury after two hours of deliberation at the Central Criminal Court.
The case received widespread press coverage, including in The Independent, BBC News and the Guardian.
Robert Ward was led by James Scobie KC of Garden Court Chambers and instructed by Pan Symeou of Faradays Solicitors.
